Street actions on Solidarity Day: Belarusians demand freedom and truth about missing people (Photo, video)
- 16.12.2008, 20:42
On December 16, street actions of solidarity with politically repressed and disappeared opponents of the regime of Lukashenka were held in Minsk and other Belarusian cities.
Street actions were organized by activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, “Young Front”, and “Young Belarus”. A street action of solidarity began near “Moscow” cinema theatre in Minsk at 7.00 p.m. activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” were holding portraits of missing Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, Zmitser Zavadski, and Yury Zakharanka. They lighted candles and formed a human chain near the entrance to the cinema theatre. Then they hung out a banner “We demand international investigation of political disappearances” on the building of the cinema theatre.
An hour before, activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” and “Young Front” not only held a street action near “Belarus” cinema theatre, but also hung out a huge banner and placed portraits of disappeared people and posters “Who is the next?” on a denim ribbon. This banner was fixed to two poles. The banner was still hanging near the cinema theatre at 7.00 p.m. Passers-by supported the action, Radio Svaboda reports.
At 6.00 p.m., activists of the “Young Belarus” movement organized a street action on October square of Minsk. 7 people took part in the action. Riot militiamen forced them out of the square to “Zhuravinka” restaurant, and the activists went along Yanka Kupala Street carrying portraits of the disappeared people.
At 2.00 p.m., an action of solidarity was held in the yard of the Belarusian State University. Youth activists of the “Young Belarus” movement distributed leaflets and portraits to the disappeared people among students. The activists were detained and guarded to a militia department. Artur Finkevich, Aleh Karol, Alyaksandr Stsepanenka, Valer Sakovich, and Syarhei Kastylenka were in the Maskouski distirct militia department. Later, they were set free and reports weren’t’ drawn, Radio Svaboda informs.
Near the National Academy of Sciences, activists of the “European Belarus” campaign held a performance: 10 people ranked and a man in a mask with moustache “shot” them saying “In the name of president!”
At 5.00 p.m., an action of solidarity took place near “October” cinema theatre. Activists of the “European Belarus” campaign held a street action on Yakub Kolas square at 4.00 p.m. one young man was detained, but later released. Former political prisoner and other activists joined the action. No people were detained after 6.00 p.m.
Street actions of solidarity were held in Salihorsk, Brest, Zhodzina, Slonim, Barysau, Slutsk, Shklou, Mahilou, Hrodna and other Belarusian cites on December 16.
The participants demanded to recognize 1o people, convicted in the Case of 14, political prisoners, or acquit them and cancel 2-year sentence of restraint of liberty, or home arrest.
Yakub Kolas square
Yakub Kolas square
Yakub Kolas square
Photo by Radio Svaboda
Photo by Radio Svaboda
Photo by Radio Svaboda
Photo by Radio Svaboda
Photo by Radio Svaboda
Freedom square